Chapter 16 #2
She went to the livery barn, rented a buggy. and drove out to the ranch. Grandfather Marshall was thrilled to be able to help her, and she returned sometime later feeling—for the first time since her memory returned—that she could make a new life for herself.
With keys in hand, she went to the empty house at the edge of town and walked through it. This was to be her home. She would pay the rent as soon as she had income. One room would serve as her sewing room. Hopefully, she would soon have customers.
Grandfather had assured her there was no need to go back to Alliance to seek permanent custody of Mikey.
“You write a letter. I’ll write one, as well. My lawyer will take care of the rest.”
A wagon rumbled to the front of the house, and two cowboys from the ranch jumped down and began to carry in the furniture Grandfather Marshall had said would be part of their rental agreement.
She didn’t need much—a worktable for her sewing room, a couch for the sitting room, a kitchen table and chairs.
Besides that, two beds for the rooms upstairs.
Excitement fluttered in her stomach. She was really going to do this. It felt right in every way but one.
How would she live in the same town as Jesse, see him often, and endure the way her heart cracked every time she thought of him?
But changing her location would not make her heart hurt any less, so she might as well stay here where she felt she belonged.
Jesse watched the wagon pull up to the house and unload furniture. Someone was moving in. He couldn’t deny a sense of disappointment at the death of his dream.
Emily had not given him a chance to explain that her past didn’t matter to him. It seemed to matter to her, though.
He talked to Gram about it. “I don’t care what people say about her. She did nothing wrong.”
“I agree, but she’s right. Not everyone will see it that way.” Gram studied him for a moment without speaking. “She doesn’t want to hurt you.”
“Not letting me tell her how I feel hurts.”
“She knows how you feel about your mother. Perhaps she fears you will view her in the same jaded way.”
“I’ve forgiven my mother.” He told Gram of his experience.
She hugged him. “Good for you.”
“I wanted to tell Emily, but she wouldn’t let me.”
Gram chuckled. “All I can say is that actions speak louder than words.”
He squinted at her. “What do you mean?”
“I’ll let you figure it out. Now, leave me to do my work.” She looked past him. “I do wish Emily would take over my business. I’m getting too old for this.”
Her remark took him aback. For some reason, he saw her as timeless, always the same, always there. Of course, it wasn’t so. He patted her shoulder. “You don’t need to keep doing this. I can support us.”
“I know. But I hate to leave my customers without an alternative.”
“I hope something works out for you.” He left the house, swung to Rocky’s back, and trotted down the street to see who was moving into the empty house.
The front door stood open, allowing him a glimpse of a woman sweeping the floor. He slowed and stared. Emily?
She was staying in town?
He sat back in the saddle and chuckled, knowing he’d been given a second chance. One he didn’t intend to waste.
Gram had said actions spoke louder than words. Starting today, his actions would show how much he cared for and respected her.
He went back home, collected some tools, and returned to Emily’s house, where he went to the backyard and began to cut down the overgrown weeds.
An hour later, he was hot, dusty, and sweaty.
He straightened and looked around. It would take several afternoons to achieve his goal of turning the overgrown yard into the beautiful garden it had once been.
After stretching his back and rubbing his neck, he returned to the task. Several times, he glanced toward the house, hoping for a glimpse of Emily, but not once did he see her.
It was almost suppertime when he left the yard. He’d come back tomorrow.
He returned early the next morning before the day grew too hot. By noon, he’d not seen her at the house, and with other things to tend to, he had to leave, disappointed. But he wasn’t about to give up.
Saturday morning, he again returned. He’d been there an hour when he heard doors slamming, and he jerked around to watch the house. The back door flew open, and Mikey ran to him, yelling, “Yesse,” at the top of his lungs.
Jesse caught the boy and swung him overhead, then hugged him tight. “I missed you, little cowboy.”
Mikey hugged Jesse’s neck so hard he could hardly breathe.
Emily came to the door and watched them cautiously. Then she saw the garden. He’d cleaned out one corner. Her eyes widened, and she rushed to the bushes, touching the half-dozen red roses.
“You did this?”
He nodded.
“Did Grandfather Marshall ask you to?”
“No one asked me.” He shifted Mikey to one side so he could watch her more closely.
“Then why?”
“Because I saw you moving into the house and knew how much you would enjoy the flowers.”
“But why?”
He understood that she meant more than the work he had done. He lowered Mikey to the ground and took a step closer to Emily. “Because actions speak louder than words.”
She shook her head. “I don’t understand.”
“The other day, I wanted to tell you something, but you didn’t give me a chance.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve been struggling to deal with getting my memory back and deciding what I’m going to do. What did you want to tell me?”
He moved closer, close enough to see the blue sky of her eyes. And something he hadn’t seen in her gaze before—a sense of purpose, perhaps. “You were right about my need to forgive my mother. And I have.”
He told her how he’d tossed the pieces of wood into the fire. “I let go of my hurt. Something else, too. I realized I was judgmental. I think you saw that in me.” He hoped it was, in part, the reason she’d asked him to leave rather than give him the opportunity to respond to her confession.
“I’m happy for you. But that doesn’t explain this.” She waved her hand to indicate the garden.
“I don’t care about what happened to you four years ago.
You did nothing wrong. And you can be assured Mr. Ellesworth will not bother you again.
He should be in jail.” He explained how the man had tried to take advantage of the landowners.
“I don’t see you as a fallen woman, a ruined woman, or a woman with a shameful secret. ”
“How do you see me?”
He caught her hand and drew her into the seclusion of the gazebo. “I see you as a kind, sweet, noble, upright, devoted woman. Do I need to go on?”
She sank to the wooden seat. “Are you sure?”
He sat beside her and took her hands. “Very sure. I’m asking you to give me another chance to show you I care. This is just a start.” He indicated the garden, where Mikey had collected twigs and leaves and put them into a pile.
She withdrew her hands. “I rented this house. I’m going to start a seamstress business. Your grandmother said she would welcome me doing so.”
“Just the other day, she told me she wished she didn’t have to continue sewing. Said she was too old.”
“I’m glad she won’t mind me running a business like hers. But that’s not all I’ve decided to do. I’m going to try and adopt Mikey. Grandfather Marshall offered to help me.” She wrapped her arms around her chest. “I’m almost afraid to think a single woman will be allowed to adopt.”
He could change her single status, but he feared to rush her and lose her. He’d let his actions speak for him.
It took him four days to get the garden into the shape it should be.
There was a section intended for growing vegetables.
It was too late in the season to plant most things; however, he marked out rows and planted lettuce, carrots, and potatoes.
If she watered them regularly, she would at least get small vegetables.
The day he finished, he looked at the door. Should he knock and show Emily the garden? Or let her discover it herself?
Actions speak louder than words.
He went out the back gate.
Day by day, he’d grown surer of how he felt. He’d let his actions speak.
Emily looked out the window to the back garden expecting to see Jesse there.
He was gone. She’d been doing her best to avoid him despite the longing that drew her often to the window.
She sensed he cared for her, but she needed time to sort out who she was.
Was she the same Emily who’d arrived in Bella Creek without any memory?
Or was she the Emily who had been foolish enough to be caught in a compromising situation?
Or was she someone else?
Day by day, she was learning more about herself. She was strong and ready to face the challenges of her life. She would do it alone if she must, but as the days passed, she grew aware of an empty spot in her heart that had Jesse’s name on it.
But she had to make sure of how she felt, not only for her sake but for Mikey’s. The boy loved Jesse. She didn’t want him hurt if her feelings or Jesse’s were temporary.
She left the house and went to the garden.
Jesse’s work had uncovered a row of red rose bushes.
Pink and yellow buds revealed the other colors.
Other flowers would soon bloom now that they had been set free from the weeds.
She reached the fallow part and saw several rows marked out. She’d have to ask what he’d planted.
The gazebo beckoned, and she went inside. A bouquet of flowers in a tin can sat on a bench. She sat across from the display and stared at it, her mind and heart opening to the possibilities of love.
Could she be worthy of it? Could she accept it? Would loving Jesse compromise his upright way of life?
“Lord God, guide me in the right direction. I don’t want to make a mistake.” One thing she’d learned was how far-reaching mistakes could be, even honest ones committed with no malice or evil intended.
By Saturday, she had made up her mind and walked up the street to Gram and Jesse’s house.